Compare towns
Salem vs Atkinson vs Methuen vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Atkinson | Methuen | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
7,267Lowest |
53,475Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Methuen High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.